As Schools Struggle To Fill Roles, Unqualified Staff Are Stepping In

Monday, 21 October 2024 09:00

By Martin Osborne

The shortage is part of a broader nationwide crisis, but Kildare, alongside Dublin and Wicklow, is among the hardest-hit areas.

Kildare is among the counties facing a critical shortage of teachers in primary and special schools, with some schools relying on individuals not registered with the Teaching Council to fill roles.

The shortage is part of a broader nationwide crisis, but Kildare, alongside Dublin and Wicklow, is among the hardest-hit areas.

A survey conducted by the INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation), in collaboration with the Catholic Primary School Managers Association and the Irish Primary Principals' Network, reveals that 951 teacher positions in primary and special schools are currently vacant.

More than 1,300 schools, representing 40% of all primary and special schools in Ireland, participated in the survey.

Schools are bracing for an even worse situation in the coming months.

They anticipate an additional 1,816 vacancies by January due to retirements, maternity leave, and other long-term absences.

The INTO has described the findings as highlighting "an enormous crisis in our primary and special schools."

The vacant positions include 195 permanent jobs and 756 long-term temporary or substitute roles.

Schools are also relying on individuals not registered with the Teaching Council to fill roles.

The union said: "This widespread reliance on staff who are not qualified to teach in primary and special schools highlights the severity of the teacher supply crisis."